Paper-conveying mechanism.



R. E. KIMBALL. PAPER CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. I914.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEIET 1- R. ,E. KIMBALL.

PAPER CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1914- Patented Mar. 11, 1919 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

R. E. KIMBALL. PAPER CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12, 1914- 1,297,181. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. H m \N W l l l mum! tive.

ROBERT E. KIMBALL, 0F

CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PAPER-CONVEYING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed March 12, 1914. Serial No. 824,238.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. KIMBALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Conveying Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to improvements in paper-conveying mechanism, adapted for use in connection with paper-folding mechines, and the like. The object of my invention has been to produce a conveyer acting upon folded sheets traveling edgewise, which will expeditiously pass the sheets from one section of the machine to another, without buckling or affecting their register, and which will not wrinkle or mar the sheets in any way.

In the patent to Johnson, No. 893,629, July 21, 1908, there is shown a conveying mechanism wherein a plurality of spaced rollers are set at an angle with the normal travel of the paper, between which the signature is adapted to open sufficiently to be passed downward into another portion of the folding machine.

It is necessary that these rollers shall be sufficiently separated so that the travel of the signature therebetween substantially at right angles to the rollers, will not be impeded, and in consequence, their action is not posi- There have also been provided in folding machine mechanism, certain diagonally positioned rollers, which are designed to effect the diagonal .travel of the paper or signature, but the foregoing are distinguished from my invention by reason of the fact that a continuous supporting guide is provided immediately adjacent to rolls lightly engaging throughout a small periphery thereof, which permit a slight slippage of the signature as soon as the sheet is seated edgewise upon the guide or support.

The improvements of my invention comprise essentially paired engaging rolls, whose axes are slightly at an angle with the travel of the sheet, and which act in conjunction with a continuous stationary guide to retain the paper within or upon it rapidly along the same to another portion of the machine. Preferably these paired rolls are duplicated and positioned so that the paper is operated upon immediately it passes from the last co-acting set of rolls.

the guide and pass- Also a spring adjustment is provided for causing the rolls to engage the paper with the desired pressure, depending upon the weight or thickness of. the stock. The details of my improvement will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing the same in association with certain portions of a folding machine, sufficient to explain my invention.

Figure 1 of said drawings is an end view of a machine equipped with my improvements; the same being shown partially broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragamentary horizontal sec tion illustrating the driving gear.

Fig. 3 1s a slde view of the machine, also partially broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the horizontal conveyer rolls and their recessed guide.

Fig. thereof, and Fig. 6 is a view of a pair of said rolls, their spring mounting.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary inner view of the adjustable bank of vertical conveyer rolls, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a modified frusto-conical roll.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have employed the same characters of reference to indicate similar parts.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 3,'the course of the paper may be traced in order to afford an initial idea of the present improvement and its purpose. We shall assume that the paper has received its primary fold or folds, and is passed to the vertical frame a from between the paired rolls 6, b the co-acting rolls being hidden in Fig. 1. From the frame a, the paper is passed tothe right into the folding plate 0, by means of the two sets of inclined horizontal rolls d, e. The folding plate 0 is set at an angle of forty-five degrees with the transverse travel of the paper, from which it is passed through paired buckling rolls 7 and feed rolls 9, to the ver- 1 tical bank 71. of inclined rolls shown upon the left of Fig. 3, and bythese the sheet is passed downward as finally folded, between the lower delivery rolls 6, j.

This bank 72. of rolls is horizontally adjustable toward and. from the rolls 9, according to. the size of the sheet as finally folded. Since no improvement in the fold- 5 is a fragmentary vertical section fragmentary plan sectioned to show ing mechanism is herein claimed, the foregoing description will be ample for explaining my present improvement and its relation to any approved type of folding machine.

The several conveyor rolls of my invention preferably are of somewhat frustoconical. shape, better to receive the paper between them as it is advanced thereto. Figs. 5 and 6 well illustrate details of the mounting of the paired rolls (Z. Each is provided with a meshing-gear d, adapted to drive the left-hand roll in clockwise direction, and its coaacting roll in opposite direction above a grooved guide is. This left-hand roll is ournaled' in "a frame Z, mounted between opposing springs Z, Z the latter having a a screw-adjustment Z for compressing the spring Z sufficiently to react against the pivot-post m, and cause the rolls (Z to engage the paper with precisely the desired pressure, dependent upon its weight and thickness. As best shown in Fig. 4, the' groove k is sliglrtly recessed immediately beneath the right hand rolls 6, which are identical in construction and mounting with those just described; said rolls being positioned at an angle of live to ten degrees with the vertical, inclined toward the normal travel of the paper.

It may be explained that the depression or recess within the groove 70 preferably is provided for the purpose of maintaining the folded sheets in register and preventing their buckling as they are seized or grasp-ed by the paired rolls 6. The depression 70" is slight, being approximately five to ten thousandths of an inch below the surface of the groove 70.

suflicient to accommodate the slight increase in the apparent width of the. folded sheet as the edge is grasped and compressed between the rolls 6, which are spring-pressed to secure sufiicient pressure for rapidly conveying the sheets into the folding plate 0. Tt will be appreciated that the folded edge of the paper is forced down upon the bot tom of the groove by reason of the inclination of the rolls which cause the paper to travel to the right. With relatively thin paper, the tendency, is to slightly buckle or bend the paper immediately beneath the rolls 6, so that the register of the sheet is affected unless a slight depression is" is provided at this point. The depression not only accommodates the small increase in the apparent width of the paper, but. the depressed groove afi'ords two points of support immediately in front and at the rear of the position of the engagement between paired rolls 6. Consequently, there is no tendency to tilt the paper out of the plane of the groove and its travel in a right line toward the folding plate.

in Fig. 8 l have shown a slightly modified Neveitheless, it is ee /gel type of frusto-conical roll which is especially adapted for use with thinner paper stock. The base 6 of the roll presents a smooth cylindrical face, while the upper acting guide is stationary,tl1ere must be a slight slippage between the'paper and rolls, after the folded edge of the paper is seated within the groove. Consequently the cylindrieal'eng aging portions of the rolls preferably are smooth and the paired rolls are lightly and resiliently pressed together, in order to advance the paper without buckling or adecting the register. This type of roll may be substituted in either the vertical or horizontal banks of rolls, for those shown in the other figures of the drawings.

The normal action of the paired rolls (Z and c is to seize the lower edge of the folded sheet immediately it leaves the paired rolls Z), between the converging faces of the paired rolls (Z, c, which are power-driven by the gear a, to pass the sheet to the right from between the paired rolls 6. By reason of their inclination, both sets of rolls tend immediately to seat the lower edge of the paper evenly within the groove is, and the rolls 6 pass said sheet into the folding plate 0 at the desired. level, and in perfect register. The guide 71:, it may be noted, together with the paired rolls (1, e, is made vertically adjustable merely by loosening the bolt 0, which releases the strap 0, engaging the vertical supporting bar 0".

The vertical bank of rolls h comprises a plurality of paired rolls identical in construction with the rolls (i above described. These co-act with a grooved vertical guide it to pass the folded sheets downward be tween the paired guides go and the delivery rolls 7', The details of construction and the operation of the bank of rolls requires no specific explanation. but ,it should be pointed out that the supporting frame 1 is adjustably carried upon the bar so that the bank of rolls may beadvanced toward the feed rolls 9 in position to seize the folded sheet, depending upon its width, as it is released from rolls g. The supporting frame 9 is mounted upon a split sleeve 1", engagin the rod (1; which sleeve is adapted to be clamped in any adjusted position thereon by means of the transverse bolt 1*. The drive for said bank of rolls is shown in the enlarged fragment, Fig. 7, which comprises a meshing gear 8, splined upon the shaft .9 and suitably connected with the common drive of the machine, by the gear 8', of which further details are unessential to the understanding of my invention. Tn certain of the following claims I have used the terms continuous support or guide, meaning thereby the substantiallycontinuous support afforded by the guide herein for the edge of the paper, both to -the rear and in front of the coacting engaging rolls.

' Having now set forth the preferred embodiment of my improvement, and ex rolls to seat and advance the paper longitudinally of the guide, substantially as set forthf' 2. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide having a continuous groove therein, of a plurality of terminally divergent rolls positioned between the ends of the guide and engaging immediately above the said groove; the axes of which are set at an angle with the plane of the groove, and means for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the paper edgewise within the groove, substantially set forth.

3. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide having a con tinuous groove therein, of a plurality of rolls engaging immediately above the said groove; the axes of which are set at an angle with the plane of the groove, said groove being depressed immediately adjacent to the meeting faces of the rolls, and means for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the paper edgewise within the groove, substantially as set forth.

4. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide having a continuous groove therein, of a plurality of frustoconical rolls positioned between the ends of the guide and engaging immediately above said groove; the axes of which are set at an angle with the plane of the groove,

and means for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the paper edgewise within the groove, substantially as set forth.

5. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide having a continuous groove therein, -of-a plurality of fru'sto-conical rolls, engaging immediately above the said groove; the axes of which are set at an angle with the plane of the groove, said groove being depressed immediately adjacent to the meeting faces of the rolls, and means for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the paper edgewise within the groove, substantially as set forth.

6. In paper-conveying mechanism, the

combination with a grooved guide, of a plu rality of co-acting rolls engaging immediately above the grooved guide, whose axes are set at a common angle therewith, means for adjusting the guide and rolls in the plane of their axes, and driving mechanism for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the paper edgewise 'Within the grooved guide, substantially as set forth.

7. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide having a con tinuous supporting face adapted to receive the edge of the folded sheet, of paired rolls positioned adjacent to the guide intermediate its ends and engaging immediately above the guide; the axes of said rolls being at a common angle with the plane of the guide, a journal bearing for one of said rolls, a spring adjustment acting thereon for engaging said roll with its co-acting roll, and means for driving said rolls in unison, ubstantially as set forth.

8. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a grooved guide, of paired frusto-conical rolls engaging immediately above the groove, a journal bearing for one of said rolls, two opposing springs respectively acting thereon, an adjustment for controlling the engaging-pressure of the rolls, and means for driving said rolls in unison, substantially as set forth.

9. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with paired frusto conical rolls, of a grooved guide extending longitudinally between said rollswith which their axes are set at an inclination; said grooved guide being slightly recessed immediately beneath the engaging point of said rolls, and driving mechanism for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the paper edgewise within the grooved guide, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a folding ma.- chine, of paper-conveying mechanism therein, comprising a grooved guide, a bank of associated paired rolls, engaging immediately above the groove. means for adjusting the guide and rolls with respect to the folding machine, spring adjusting means for varying the pressure of the rolls; said rolls being set with their axes inclined to. the plane ofthe groove, and driving mechanismfor rotating the bank of rolls in unison to seat and adva-nce the paper edgewise within the grooved. guide, substantially as set forth.

11. In paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide having a continu ous supporting face adapted to receive the edge of the folded sheet, of paired co-acting rolls, the axes of which are slightly inclined toward the direction of travel for the folded sheet; said rolls having substantially cylindrical sections engaging immediately above the guide and frusto-conical upper sections, resilient means for engaging the rolls, and driving mechanism for rotating the rolls in unison to seat and advance the sheet longitudinally of the guide, substan tially as set forth.

12. in paper-conveying mechanism, the combination With means for passing sheets in a given direction, of a guide having a continuous supporting face substantially at right angles to the initial travel of the paper, spring-pressed engaging rolls, the axes of which are set at a slight angle with the path of the paper during its secondary movement; said rolls having terminally divergent trusto-conical upper portions and cylindrical lower portions adapted positively to engage and advance the paper therebetween, and means for driving said rolls to seat the paper accurately upon the guide, substantially as set forth.

13. in paper-conveying mechanism, the combination with a guide affording a continuous supporting face, of a plurality of trusto-conieal rolls peripherally engaging immediately above the guide; said guide being recessed adjacent to the meeting faces of the rolls a spring mounting for said rolls, and means for rotating said rolls in unison to seatand advance the paper edge Wise upon the guide substantially as set forth.

in paper-conveying mechanism, the

combination with a horizontal guide ati'ording a continuous supporting face for the edge of the paper, of paired spring-pressed rolls intern'lediately positioned with respect to said guide and engaging each other peripherally immediately above the guide in position to grasp the paper near its edge; said rolls being set at a slight angle with the, vertical and adapted to seat the paper and advance it along said guide, and means for rotating the rolls in unison, substantiall as set forth.

15. in apparatus of the class described. the combination With paired engaging rolls. ot an associated horizontal guide for the edges of the signatures conveyed: said rolls being positioned closely adjacent to the supporting plane of the guide with their axes slightly inclined toward one end thereof and said guide extending laterally in both directions beyond the rolls for supporting and accurately positioning the signatures, means for driving said rolls, and yielding mech;

anism for lightly pressing them into engagement, substantially as set forth.

in testimony whereofv I do now aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. Klh'ilfiiilili. iVitnesses:

REUBEN HITCHCOCK, ALBERT LYNN Lawnuxce. 

